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'Do' Diligence

College consultants spend a lot of time helping students and their families prepare for life after high school. I myself have become pretty good at directing people to the best books available on the market. SAT and ACT, among others, provide excellent guidance. But what does God’s literature have to say on the topic? The most respected people in the field of education travel the country telling you how to make the most of your abilities. Learning from their insights can be very valuable. But what do your prayers and those of your children tell you about your students’ futures?

“And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability…” (Matthew 25:15, KJV). Our students have very unique aptitudes and abilities. The parable of the talents provides a numinous mandate for us to ensure they are maximizing their talents. The time for parents to provide constant guidance is winding down and it is very important that we make the most of it. Our students will have many questions (not all of which are verbalized) about what they will do after high school. It is an underprepared parent who has no knowledge of the options available to his or her student. It is an overanxious parent who misses the opportunity to show his or her students how to seek the Lord’s counsel in guiding their futures.

The web site www.homeschoolcounselor.com devotes a page to recommended college preparatory literature. Many parents we encountered on our tour of Middle America’s homeschool conventions were concerned they had not exercised due diligence in preparing themselves and their children for the options available after high school. Christian education families do not have the luxury of full-time guidance counselors. My website, and sites such as https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/, can be helpful to you as you take time to familiarize yourself with the educational landscape beyond high school. Do your diligence, then step aside and listen. All of us need to be reminded occasionally, as we navigate these waters, that it should be God who is charting the course.

About the Author

Shawn Stewart

Shawn uses his experience in higher education to help homeschool families find ideal academic and spiritual options. He was blessed in his former position to have worked directly with a lot of colleges: Christian, private and public.